Drive Angry

Watched Drive Angry last night via Amazon Instant Video on the Roku. I had to rent it after seeing the Dodge Charger in the promo stills. The premise is Nicolas Cage escapes from hell to try and save his grand daughter from being sacrificed by a Satanic Cult. OK. Cage's main rides are a 1963 Buick Riviera (opening), a 1969 440 Dodge Charger R/T (main ride), a 1971 Chevrolet SS 454 Chevelle (climax sequences) and briefly a 1957 Chevy (ending). Overall a decent action film, worth the cost of the rental. Some over-the-top sequences, like the sex scene turned gun fight while still having sex scene. The '69 Charger was almost spot on except the General Lee style Vector rims. Cragars would have been the deal. Which brings me to the lamest part of this film. The '71 Chevelle. Chevelle's do not have any kind of bad ass attitude and from 1970 on they looked weak kneed even in SS trim. It's almost like they put a Chevelle in the film just to appease the dime a dozen Chevy guys and sell some Chevrolet merch. It really didn't fit in the film AT ALL- especially in it's bright red paint and resto-stock appearance. The Riviera was a cool choice- you don't see many of those old gorgeous cars in films, and even the '57 Chevy for the end sequence was acceptable. It's just that damn Chevelle...well at least we got the Charger for 
the bulk of the chases. 

More Burnt Orange Percussion Sessions

Did some more recording of found object percussion for Burnt Orange and the Rats & Gassers Soundtrack. Man I really love the way my old magazine display rack sounds (see bottom picture). I used it extensively in Hot Rod Girls Save The World. Sound is everywhere. 

My Top 10 Rats in Rat Rod Magazine Issue #12

Was asked to judge Rat Rod Magazines Top 10 Rats of 2011- that just came out in Issue #12. Honored that they would ask me to be a judge! Some great cars last year, seems like the scene is exploding which can be a good thing or a bad thing. Only time will tell. 

Korg NanoPad2

Just bought one of these to use with Kong in Reason 6. Small, cheap and loaded with features. Looks like a great "drum machine pad interface" for my laptop set-up. Check out the assignable X-YPad to the left (big grey area). I will post a demo when I get it in the mail.

Orange Percussion

The "Board" to the left of my stand up drum kit features all kinds of
springs and metal bits to bang on. Besides standard mics, I attached a
contact mic to the bottom the "The Board." 

Working on a new percussion and drum set sounds, performances and loops for the Rats & Gassers:Kustom Kulture Takes A Ride Soundtrack and my new album Burnt Orange. Using mallets I played various one hits and rhythms into my older Mac  running Cubase VST and then exported the tracks for editing in Reason 6. Pretty exciting stuff, new timbres and directions for my rhythm tracks. I am looking for a more organic, found sound percussion sound, kinda like Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake's  work with Latin Playboys.

Rats & Gassers Filming

The vivacious Miss Aly Hellcat came over to the studio today to film an interview for Rats & Gassers: Kustom Kulture Takes A Ride. I am doing short interview segments with all the gals from the Pin-Up Calendar shoot to interject in the film during the Calendar footage. 

Rats & Gassers Documentary Film Companion Book

Started a little layout work on the Rats & Gassers: Kustom Kulture Takes A Ride Companion Book today. Thinking 8x10 or so in size with 200+ color pages. This project makes so much sense, it's really a no-brainer. Since I am writing all the narrative and taking still images as I go for the film, it is really just a matter of reformatting the material to the printed page. This is the preliminary cover and may not be the final version. This is one of my favorite pics that I have taken for the film so far- a closeup of Trevor Robinson's '29 Ford Pickup "Nothing Special."

Rats & Gassers Filming

Interviewed the lovely Kitty Mansfield today for Rats & Gassers: Kustom Kulture Takes A Ride. Nice to get back to work on the film after yesterdays left down from the fundraiser. 

Well We Didn't Make It :(

Firstly I want to say-
THANK YOU TO ALL THE BACKERS OF THIS PROJECT!!!!

I learned alot from this experience and feel it was really helpful to my own understanding of Crowd Funding Projects. Since we didn't reach our goal of $5,000- we will not get a penny from this campaign (neither will Kickstarter).Your accounts will not be charged and as of right now you have not pre-ordered the DVD nor will backers from this campaign be listed on websites or in the film credits. I want to make this clear, because a few people have e-mailed me saying to "just keep the money even if we don't reach goal, etc." Though that is very kind, I can not do that. Kickstarter only funds projects that reach goal and Amazon processes the money, not me. 

I also want to say Kickstarter and Indie Go-Go are awesome websites and resources for film makers, authors and creative people to fund their projects. Please look at these sites and fund interesting projects if you can. I do every month. The arts are important, especially in these chaotic and uncertain times. 

Please like the Rats & Gassers Facebook for updates
http://www.facebook.com/ratsandgassers

Currently Rats & Gassers: Kustom Kulture Takes A Ride is in full production. That has not changed. I expect the film to be in festivals by the end of this year. I also firmly believe that this will be the most successful film I have ever made. My last two B-Movies have done extremely well, literally re-birthing the Hot Rod Film Genre. The difference with Rats & Gassers is, being a documentary, more festival doors will be open to this film. The Average Joe, who might not like Hot Rod B-Movies, may really take an interest in Rat Rods and Gassers and the people directly involved with building them and the kulture.

We will have to try again later in the year. 

Thanks Again!

D.A. Sebasstian 

Rats & Gassers Interviews

Did a set of interviews with photographer Tina Tang and model Kissable Kandie for Rats & Gassers: Kustom Kulture Takes A Ride. This is a follow-up to the shoot we did in January. I wanted a few insights into the photographer and pin-up model mindsets- especially when they are working with cars in the shoot. We did the interview in Tina's Parris Blue Studio. 

Continental Magazine #19

I have a track (Rats & Gassers Theme) on the new Continental Magazine Issue 19 CD (included with the publication). 

Poster Display Rack

Finished the poster display rack for our vendor booth for this summers car show season.